GUEST OPINION: Life lessons to help residents prosper in the new economy

I come from a kind and caring family. My father, Fred Ferreira, is a pastor at Third Baptist Church, and my mother Gail Ferreira is a hospice nurse. I have come to realize that my parents’ lessons for getting through tough times have actually wound up guiding me in my work as a case manager at Project ASSIST.

I come from a kind and caring family. My father, Fred Ferreira, is a pastor at Third Baptist Church, and my mother, Gail Ferreira, is a hospice nurse. I have come to realize that my parents’ lessons for getting through tough times have actually wound up guiding me in my work as a case manager at Project ASSIST.

These lessons include:

This too shall pass (Stay positive): Although waiting around for work for a long time can certainly take a toll on your ego, remember there is work out there. Fifty-eight percent of Project Assist clients have found work after being enrolled in our Job Club or other programs.

I find it important to stay positive about the future of Fall River. Although I know we are a far cry from the days of my childhood when work was not hard to come by, this city is rebounding. Take a walk downtown and you will see things are changing from the way that they were just five years ago. Storefronts are now occupied, there are business people in suits on the streets, global restaurants have opened up. Things are actually coming alive down there.

Roll with the punches (be adaptable): I have noticed the people who tend to land jobs, are those who are willing to be flexible in their job hunt; to pursue work that is slightly different than what they may be used to. Often this means taking a job that is offered, while looking forward to securing your future dream job.

One woman was laid off from her job as a legal secretary, and later secured work as an administrative assistant for a city program. An older veteran who was looking for work in the human services field; wound up going to school, attaining his CDL and becoming a truck driver. A former Quaker Fabric worker, attained a degree in civil engineering and is now working in a wastewater treatment plant.

To be flexible, it is a good idea to have more than one resume on hand, angled towards more than one kind of job.

I have also found that it is easier than many people believe to dissect the skills that you have gained at your previous job, to meet the needs of another employer. Many people are amazed to find out how they actually do have skills that are translatable to new professions.

Our staff can help you with resumes through job coaching or through our Job Club.

Know your community: The Project ASSIST Job Club provides a safe place for unemployed or underemployed residents to exchange creative ideas for job hunting, develop their resumes, and share their frustrations and successes with each other. Our Job Club has had 90 members to date.

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I also suggest residents who are unemployed form their own small groups of friends or neighbors who have been laid off, to help each other out. Learning that others are going through some of the same struggles, can help you feel so much less negative and alone.

Trust others (there really is no shame in asking for help): One of the things that I’ve learned is that people who come into Project ASSIST and are able to talk about some of the heavy feelings they are having that go along with not having a job; are the people who actually wind up getting work in the future. It is important to acknowledge when you are sad or nervous when coping with tough times. These are normal reactions to long term unemployment. Professionals can then help you work through them. In doing so, it is easier to look at the job market from a positive perspective.

Another good method for dealing with sadness and anxiety is exercising. Whether you are taking a brisk walk in the Freetown-Fall River State Forest, or punching a bag, exercising can actually release endorphins that make you feel better. Keeping up these routines on a daily basis, can work wonders in altering your perspective on things.

Help others (Volunteer/keep living): This is the single most important lesson my parents ever taught me. I try to live my life by the guiding principle of giving back. If you are dealing with tough personal things, it can be so uplifting to take the focus off yourself, to think about what you can do to be great today, to help others and give back. In my times of trouble, that is always the best medicine for me.

Laura Ferreira Washington is a case manager at Project ASSIST (Assisting, Serving, Supporting in Stressful Times). For more information about any of their programs including case management, job coaching or the Job Club, please contact 508-837-6957. You may also visit their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ProjectAssist, or the blog Changing Times on The Herald News website, http://www.heraldnews.com/blogs/project-assist.